Communication device and safety confirmation method

ABSTRACT

A device having a first configuration includes an input unit configured to accept an input made by a user, and a transmitting unit configured to add a safety confirmation number accepted by the input unit to a first call control signal and to transmit the first call control signal with the safety confirmation number. A device having a second configuration includes a storing unit configured to store a safety confirmation text and a safety confirmation number by associating the safety confirmation text with the safety confirmation number, and a display unit configured to display the safety confirmation text that is stored in the storing unit correspondingly to the safety confirmation number added to a received first call control signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of International PCTApplication No. PCT/JP2007/000225 which was filed on Mar. 19, 2007.

FIELD

The embodiments discussed herein are related to a communication deviceand a method for making safety confirmation.

BACKGROUND

With conventional safety confirmation methods using a portable terminalsuch as a cellular phone, a personal handy phone system (PHS), etc., anindividual in a disaster-stricken area creates his or her own safetymessage by using electronic mail, and transmits the safety state withthe electronic mail.

Additionally, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses the configurationfor providing a system with a safety confirming apparatus, whichtransmits a message for making safety confirmation to cellular phones ina disaster-stricken area.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-168990

SUMMARY

According to the first aspect of the embodiment, a communication deviceincludes an input unit and a transmitting unit.

The input unit accepts an input made by a user.

The transmitting unit adds a safety confirmation number accepted by theinput unit to a first call control signal, and transmits the first callcontrol signal with the safety confirmation number.

According to the second aspect of the embodiment, a communication deviceincludes a storing unit and a display unit.

The storing unit stores a safety confirmation text and a safetyconfirmation number by associating the safety confirmation text with thesafety confirmation number.

The display unit displays the safety confirmation text that is stored inthe storing unit correspondingly to the safety confirmation number addedto a received first call control signal.

The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attainedby means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out inthe claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and arenot restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a safety confirmation numberregistration process in an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a safety confirmation text displayprocess in the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a process of a response to safetyconfirmation in the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example where safetyconfirmation is made for a plurality of receiving terminals;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operational process executed whena transmitting terminal registers a safety confirmation number to areceiving terminal;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operational process executed whenthe transmitting terminal transmits a safety confirmation signal to thereceiving terminal;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operational processes of a safetyconfirmation response process executed by the receiving terminal;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a process executedfrom when the receiving terminal receives a call connection requestsignal until when it displays a safety confirmation text;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of asafety confirmation table;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a process forreturning state information from the receiving terminal to thetransmitting terminal in the safety confirmation response process;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration of the receiving terminal;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a system environment of aninformation processing device connected to the transmitting terminal andthe receiving terminal in the embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating examples of storage media.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

As described previously, a conventional safety confirming apparatustransmits a message for making safety confirmation to cellular phones ina disaster-stricken area. However, with such conventional safetyconfirmation methods using a portable terminal, many pieces of mailconcentrate on a mail server at one time, on which a very heavy load isimposed with high possibility. Accordingly, if pieces of mail exceedingthe throughput of the mail server are transmitted at one time, they areaccumulated and remain unprocessed within the mail server. Thisdeteriorates the throughput of the mail server, leading to a delay inthe safety confirmation. Such a problem may occur in not only a mailserver for a portable terminal but also that for any other communicationdevice for making safety confirmation.

Furthermore, in order to transmit mail, a connection at a wirelesslevel, a connection at a call control level, and the establishment of alink at a packet level are required between the portable terminal and asystem. Therefore, a load imposed on a relay telephone switching systemincreases, which causes a concern for a hindrance to a normalcommunication. Such a problem may occur in not only a system for aportable terminal but also that for any other communication device formaking safety confirmation.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained withreference to accompanying drawings. Here, a portable terminal such as acellular phone is assumed to be a communication device, but acommunication device in the embodiments is not limited to such aportable terminal. Additionally, the embodiments also cover a safetyconfirmation method and program executed by a communication device.

In this embodiment, one or more messages are stored in advance in aportable terminal for which safety confirmation is to be made (receivingterminal). A portable terminal that makes safety confirmation(transmitting terminal) transmits to the receiving terminal information(safety confirmation number) for identifying a message stored in thereceiving terminal by using a call control signal, and causes thereceiving terminal to display the safety confirmation messagecorresponding to the safety confirmation number.

On the receiving terminal, a user selects a response when viewing thedisplayed message, and notifies the transmitting terminal of theselected response as a call control signal.

As described above, the portable terminals in this embodiment can onlymake a connection at a call control level, and can make safetyconfirmation only by exchanging signal information at the call controllevel. The amount of information at the call control level is as smallas 8 kbps compared with that at a voice level (64 kbps). Therefore, aheavy load does not concentrate on a particular portion of the systemsuch as a switch, etc. even if many users make safety confirmation atthe same time.

Details of the safety confirmation process executed by the portableterminals in the embodiment are described below.

In this embodiment, a safety confirmation number registration process isinitially executed.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the safety confirmation numberregistration process.

In this embodiment, a message text (safety confirmation text) displayedat the time of safety confirmation, and a safety confirmation number areregistered to the receiving terminal 3 in advance.

In the safety confirmation number registration process, the safetyconfirmation message text (safety confirmation text) and the safetyconfirmation number are transmitted from the transmitting terminal 1 ora safety confirmation system 2 such as a server, etc. of a securitycompany to the receiving terminal 3 as a notification using electronicmail. The receiving terminal 3 that receives the safety confirmationtext and the safety confirmation number stores these items ofinformation by making an association between them.

In FIG. 1, a text “Safety confirmation. Press the key to select . . . ”is transmitted as a safety confirmation text to the receiving terminal 3along with the safety confirmation number as a mail text 4. Thereceiving terminal 3 associates the safety confirmation text with thesafety confirmation number, and registers them to a safety confirmationtable to be described later.

With this safety confirmation number registration process, a messagedisplayed on the terminal on the receiving side at the time of safetyconfirmation can be freely set. With the receiving terminal that storesthe safety confirmation text by executing such a safety confirmationnumber registration process, the safe confirmation of the user of thereceiving terminal is made when needed.

This safety confirmation number registration process is not an essentialprocess. The safety confirmation text may be associated with the safetyconfirmation number and stored in advance in the safety confirmationtable of the portable terminal, for example, at factory shipment. Insuch a case, it is not necessary to provide the receiving terminal 3with a mail reception function.

A safety confirmation text display process is described next.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the safety confirmation text displayprocess.

When a disaster, etc. occurs, the safety confirmation text displayprocess for displaying a safety confirmation message on an receivingterminal of a person who can possibly be at a disaster site is executed.

With the safety confirmation text display process, a call controlsignal, for example, a call connection request signal (SETUP signal) 5,to which a safety confirmation number is added, is transmitted from thetransmitting terminal 1 to the receiving terminal 3 in adisaster-stricken area.

The receiving terminal 3 that receives the call control signal to whichthe safety confirmation number is added searches the safety confirmationtable for the safety confirmation number added to the SETUP signal,reads the safety confirmation text, which corresponds to the receivedsafety confirmation number, from the safety confirmation table, anddisplays the read text on the display unit of the receiving terminal 3itself.

In FIG. 2, the telephone number of the transmitting terminal 1, and asafety confirmation text for causing the user of the receiving terminal3 to select a response, such as a text of “Safety confirmation. Pressthe key to select . . . ”, which corresponds to the safety confirmationnumber added to the received SETUP signal, are displayed on the displayunit of the receiving terminal 3.

In this way, the message can be presented to a person in adisaster-stricken area only by receiving a call control signal from theterminal on the transmitting side.

Additionally, the safety confirmation text can be displayed on thereceiving terminal 3 by transmitting only the call control signal fromthe transmitting terminal 1 without connecting a data channel.Accordingly, a high transmission load for transferring the safetyconfirmation text is not imposed on the system.

A process of a response to the safety confirmation, which is made fromthe receiving terminal 3, is described next.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the process of the response to thesafety confirmation in this embodiment.

A key corresponding to the response is pressed within a predeterminedduration (such as 30 seconds) after the safety confirmation text isdisplayed on the receiving terminal 3 with the safety confirmation textdisplay process of FIG. 2. As a result, the type of the pressed key isadded to a disconnection signal (RELEASE signal) 6 as safety stateinformation along with the safety confirmation number received from thetransmitting terminal 1, and transmitted to the transmitting terminal 1.For example, if the user of the receiving terminal 3 desires to make aresponse of “evacuating” when viewing the displayed safety confirmationtext in FIG. 3, he or she presses the key of “2”. As a result, thesafety state number of “2” corresponding to the key pressed by the useris added to the disconnection signal along with the safety confirmationnumber #4949, and transmitted to the transmitting terminal 1.

By receiving the safety state number added to the disconnection signal(RELEASE signal) 6, the transmitting terminal 1 can make the safetyconfirmation of the user using the receiving terminal 3.

If a number key is not pressed within the predetermined duration afterthe safety confirmation text is displayed on the receiving terminal 3,the disconnection signal 6 is automatically transmitted from thereceiving terminal 3 as a safety state unconfirmed.

The transmitting terminal 1 can confirm the safety state of the user ofthe receiving terminal 3 based on the safety state number added to thedisconnection signal 6 upon receipt of the disconnection signal 6 fromthe receiving terminal 3. For example, if the safety state number is“2”, the transmitting terminal 1 searches for the message correspondingto the safety state number received from the receiving terminal 3 in amemory for storing safety state numbers and messages respectivelyassociating therewith, and displays the obtained message on the displayunit of the transmitting terminal 1 itself. In the example of FIG. 3,the message corresponding to the safety state number “2” is“evacuating”. Therefore, the user of the transmitting terminal 1 canconfirm that the user of the receiving terminal 3 is evacuating, basedon the message displayed on the display unit.

With this configuration, a response to the transmitting side can be madeonly by transmitting a call control signal.

Procedures for the safety confirmation for a plurality of terminaldevices are described next.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of making safetyconfirmation for the plurality of receiving terminals 3-1, . . . , 3-n.Here, assume that the receiving terminals 3-1 and 3-n have telephonenumbers of “090-1111-2222” and “090-1111-3333”, respectively.

In FIG. 4, the safety confirmation of the user of each of the terminaldevices can be made in a similar manner as in the above described caseof transmitting and receiving terminals making a one-to-onecorrespondence by transmitting the call connection request signal (SETUPsignal), to which a safety confirmation number is added, from the safetyconfirmation system 2 such as a server, etc. of a security company toeach of the plurality of receiving terminals 3-1, 3-n. Then, each of thereceiving terminals 3-1, . . . , 3-n can make a response to the safetyconfirmation system 2 by adding information such as a safety statenumber, etc. to each of the disconnection signals 6-1, . . . , 6-n.

These processes can be implemented by the same functions and processesas those in the case of transmitting and receiving terminals making aone-to-one correspondence illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Details of the above described processes are described next withreference to the flowcharts.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operational process executed whenthe transmitting terminal 1 registers a safety confirmation number tothe receiving terminal 3.

Once the process of FIG. 5 is started, a user operates an input unitsuch as an input button, etc. of the transmitting terminal 1 to activatea safety confirmation number registration menu of the transmittingterminal 1 in step S1. As a result of this operation, the transmittingterminal 1 displays the safety confirmation number registration menu onthe display screen.

Next, when the user inputs the telephone number or the mail address ofthe receiving terminal 3, to which the safety confirmation number is tobe registered with the input unit, the transmitting terminal 1 reads theinput number or address in step S2. Then, the user inputs the safetyconfirmation number desired to be registered to the receiving terminal 3with the input unit, and the transmitting terminal 1 reads the inputnumber in step S3.

Next, the user inputs a message desired to be registered to thereceiving terminal 3, and the transmitting terminal 1 reads the inputmessage to be registered in step S4.

Then, in step S5, electronic mail including the safety confirmationnumber read in step S3 and the message read in step S4 is created andaddressed to the mail address read in step S2. If the telephone numberis input in step S2, the electronic mail is addressed to the mailaddress corresponding to the telephone number.

Upon termination of transmitting the electronic mail, the message readin step S4 is associated with the safety confirmation number read instep S3, and registered to the memory. Here, the process is terminated.

Note that the safety confirmation number is registered to thetransmitting terminal 1 by being associated with a message when the useroperates the input unit to input the message to the transmittingterminal 1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operational process executed bythe transmitting terminal 1 when the transmitting terminal 1 transmits asafety confirmation signal to the receiving terminal 3.

Once the process of FIG. 6 is started, a user operates the input unitsuch as an input button, etc. of the transmitting terminal 1 to activatea safety confirmation transmission menu. As a result, the activatedsafety confirmation transmission menu is displayed on the display screenof the transmitting terminal 1.

Next, the user of the transmitting terminal 1 inputs the telephonenumber of the receiving terminal 3, for which the safety confirmation isto be made, with the input unit, and the transmitting terminal 1 readsthe telephone number in step S12. Then, in step S13, the transmittingterminal 1 accepts a safety confirmation number that the user selectsand inputs on the safety confirmation transmission menu. In thisexample, the safety confirmation number is assumed to be #4949.

When the user presses a safety confirmation number transmission buttonof the transmitting terminal 1 after these processes are executed, thetransmitting terminal 1 detects that the user presses the safetyconfirmation number transmission button. Upon detecting that the userpresses the button, the safety confirmation number #4949 accepted instep S13 is set in the SETUP signal as user data in step S15, and theSETUP signal in which the safety confirmation number is set is addressedto the telephone number read in step S12 as a call control signal (stepS16). Note that an area to which the user data is added is secured inthe SETUP signal by default.

In this way, the safety confirmation number is transmitted to thereceiving terminal 3 for which safety confirmation is to be made.

Next, a CALL CONFIRMED signal indicating that the call is being set istransmitted as a call control signal from the receiving terminal 3 as aresponse to the SETUP signal transmitted in step S16. The transmittingterminal 1 receives this signal (step S17).

Upon receipt of the CALL CONFIRMED signal, the transmitting terminal 1transmits an ALERTING signal to instruct the receiving terminal 3 tobeep in step S18. Upon receipt of the disconnection signal (RELEASEsignal) from the receiving terminal 3 as a response to the ALERTINGsignal (step S19), the corresponding message is searched for in thememory by using safety state information (safety state number) added tothe RELEASE signal, and the safety state received from the receivingterminal 3 is displayed on the display unit in step S20.

Then, a RELEASE COMPLETE signal is transmitted as a response to theRELEASE signal to the receiving terminal 3 that transmits the RELEASEsignal in step S21. Here, the process is terminated.

Details of the safety confirmation response process executed by thereceiving terminal 3 are described next.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the safety confirmationresponse process executed by the receiving terminal 3.

With the process of FIG. 7, the receiving terminal 3 transmits a callsetup response signal (CALL CONFIRMED signal) to the transmittingterminal 1 as a response (step S32) upon receipt of the call controlsignal (SETUP signal) from the transmitting terminal 1 (step S31).

The ALERTING signal is transmitted from the transmitting terminal 1 tothe receiving terminal 3 in order to make the receiving terminal 3 beep.Therefore, the receiving terminal 3 beeps upon receipt of the ALERTINGsignal.

Next, a safety confirmation number added to the SETUP signal that isreceived from the transmitting terminal 1 in step S31 is extracted instep S33.

If the safety confirmation number cannot be extracted from the SETUPsignal in the safety confirmation number extraction process in step S33,it is determined that the safety confirmation number is not added to theSETUP signal (“not added” in step S34), and a normal call control isperformed in step S35.

If the safety confirmation number is added to the SETUP signal in thesafety confirmation number extraction process in step S33 (“added” instep S34), the safety confirmation text corresponding to the safetyconfirmation number extracted in step S34 is displayed on the displayunit of the receiving terminal 3 in step S36.

Next, the user who views the safety confirmation text displayed in stepS36 presses a key of the input unit as a response on the receivingterminal 3. Upon detection of the press of the key (“pressed” in stepS37), the receiving terminal 3 adds information indicating the pressedkey as safety state information to the RELEASE signal along with thesafety confirmation number received from the transmitting terminal 1,and transmits the signal to the transmitting terminal 1 as a safetystate information response release signal in step S38. Upon receipt ofthe RELEASE COMPLETE signal from the transmitting terminal 1 as aresponse, the receiving terminal 3 terminates this process.

Additionally, if a key input is not made for 30 seconds (“NO” in stepS39) while a key input is being waited for 30 seconds (“not pressed” instep S37 and “YES” in step S39) after the safety confirmation text isdisplayed on the display unit, the receiving terminal 3 transmits theRELEASE signal as a safety state unconfirmed response release signalwithout adding a safety state signal in step S40. Upon receipt of theRELEASE COMPLETE signal from the transmitting terminal 1 as a responseto the transmitted RELEASE signal, the receiving terminal 3 terminatesthis process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a process executedfrom when the receiving terminal 3 receives the call connection requestsignal (SETUP signal) until when the receiving terminal 3 displays asafety confirmation text.

With this process, the receiving terminal 3 is caused to display thesafety confirmation text by using the safety confirmation table that ispreregistered by associating a safety confirmation text with a safetyconfirmation number or registered through the safety confirmation numberregistration process of FIG. 2.

Upon receipt of the call connection request signal (SETUP signal)transmitted from the transmitting terminal 1, the receiving terminal 3refers to user data added to the SETUP signal in step S51.

If the user data is not added to the SETUP signal as a result ofreferring to the user data (“NO” in step S52), a normal call control isperformed in step S55. Here, the process is terminated.

If the user data is added to the SETUP signal in step S52 (“YES” in stepS52), whether or not the user data added to the SETUP signal is a safetyconfirmation number is determined. If the user data is not the safetyconfirmation number (“other than a safety confirmation number” in stepS53), the normal call control is performed in step S55. Here, theprocess is terminated.

If the safety confirmation number is determined to be included in theuser data (“safety confirmation number” in step S53), the safetyconfirmation text corresponding to the safety confirmation number isobtained by searching the safety confirmation table for the safetyconfirmation number. Thereafter, a process for displaying the safetyconfirmation text obtained by searching the safety confirmation table,and a process for returning the safety state information to thetransmitting terminal 1 are executed as represented by the processes inand after step S36 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example ofthe safety confirmation table.

In the safety confirmation table, safety confirmation numbers 11-1,11-2, . . . , and safety confirmation texts 12-1, 12-2, . . . areassociated with each other and registered.

The receiving terminal 3 searches the safety confirmation table for thesafety confirmation number 11 added to the SETUP signal, reads from thesafety confirmation table the safety confirmation text corresponding tothe safety confirmation number, and displays the read text on thedisplay unit.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a process forreturning state information to the transmitting terminal 1 in the safetyconfirmation response process executed by the receiving terminal 3.

When a user presses a key of the input unit of the receiving terminal 3(step S61) in the state where the safety confirmation text is displayedon the display unit of the receiving terminal 3 after the processes upto step S36 of FIG. 7 are executed, the type of the pressed key (here“1”) is set in the user data portion of the RELEASE signal as safetystate information along with the safety confirmation number receivedfrom the transmitting terminal 1 in step S62, and the RELEASE signal, towhich the user data is added, is transmitted to the transmittingterminal 1 in step S63.

As described above, with the transmitting terminal 1 and the receivingterminal 3 according to this embodiment, safety confirmation can be madeby using a transmission signal and a disconnection signal at a callcontrol level. As a result, a load imposed on a relay cellular phoneswitching system can be reduced, which prevents a normal communicationfrom being hindered.

Additionally, since safety confirmation can be made without usingelectronic mail, a mail server is not used for the safety confirmation.Therefore, a delay does not occur in the safety confirmation.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardwareconfiguration of the receiving terminal 3. FIG. 11 only illustratescomponents related to the safety confirmation number registrationprocess in the embodiment among the components of the receiving terminal3. Generally, a portable terminal device includes number keys forinputting a numerical value, etc., and a display unit for displayingvarious items of information. Also the receiving terminal 3 illustratedin FIG. 11 is assumed to include these components.

The receiving terminal 3 illustrated in FIG. 11 includes a keycontrolling unit 21, a screen controlling unit 22, a program executingunit 23, a wireless controlling unit 24, a data storing unit 25, aninterface controlling unit 26, a program storing unit 27 and a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 28. The program executing unit 23 includes aninput/output controlling unit 31, a safety confirmation display unit 32,a safety confirmation text registering unit 33, a call controlling unit34, a mail transmitting/receiving unit 35, and a safety confirmationnumber determining unit 36.

The key controlling unit 21 detects a key operation of the input unitnot illustrated. The screen controlling unit 22 controls the displayscreen of the display unit not illustrated. The program executing unit23 executes various types of control processes of the receiving terminal3. The wireless controlling unit 24 controls a wireless communicationwith a base station. The data storing unit 25 is a memory for storingthe safety confirmation table, etc. The interface controlling unit 26controls a connection with an information processing device or a networkconnected to the receiving terminal 3. The program storing unit 27 is arewritable nonvolatile memory for storing a program used to control theentire receiving terminal 3. The CPU 28 controls the receiving terminal3 by executing the program stored in the program storing unit 27.

The input/output controlling unit 31 of the program executing unit 23 isa driver, etc. for controlling an input/output of the receiving terminal3. The safety confirmation display unit 32 controls the display unit notillustrated to display a safety confirmation text. The safetyconfirmation text registering unit 33 registers a safety confirmationtext and a safety confirmation number by making an association betweenthem in the safety confirmation table. The call controlling unit 34outputs a call control signal by controlling the wireless controllingunit 24. The mail transmitting/receiving unit 35 transmits/receiveselectronic mail. The safety confirmation number determining unit 36notifies the safety confirmation text registering unit 33 of a safetyconfirmation number and a safety confirmation text within the electronicmail received by the mail transmitting/receiving unit 35.

The input/output controlling unit 31, the safety confirmation displayunit 32, the safety confirmation text registering unit 33, the callcontrolling unit 34, the mail transmitting/receiving unit 35 and thesafety confirmation number determining unit 36, which configure theprogram executing unit 24, may be configured with dedicated hardware, ormay be implemented in a software manner in a way such that the CPU 28executes the program stored in the program storing unit 27.

FIG. 12 illustrates a system environment of the information processingdevice such as a PC, etc. connected to the transmitting terminal 1 andthe receiving terminal 3 according to this embodiment.

To the transmitting terminal 1 and the receiving terminal 3 according tothis embodiment, an information processing device can be connected withan external interface such as a universal serial bus (USB), Bluetooth,etc. The program stored in the program storing unit can be rewritten viathe information processing device.

The information processing device illustrated in FIG. 12 includes a CPU41, a main storage device 42 such as a random access memory (RAM), etc.,an auxiliary storage device 43 such as a hard disk, etc., aninput/output device (I/O) 44 such as a display, a keyboard, a pointingdevice, etc., a network connecting device 45 such as a modem, etc, anexternal interface 46 for connecting an external device such as aportable terminal, etc., and a medium reading device 47 for readingstored contents from a portable storage medium such as a disc, amagnetic tape, etc. These components are interconnected by a bus 49, andmutually exchange data via the bus 49.

The CPU 41 implements the processes represented by the above describedflowcharts by executing a program stored in the auxiliary storage device43 or a program installed via the network connecting device 45 with theuse of the main storage device 42 as a working memory.

The information processing device illustrated in FIG. 12 reads a programand data stored on the storage medium 48 such as a magnetic tape, aflexible disc, a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), amagneto-optical disk (MO), etc. with the medium reading device 47, andloads the read program and data into the portable terminal according tothis embodiment via the external interface 46. The portable terminalexecutes and uses the program and the data, whereby the processesrepresented by the above described flowcharts are implemented in asoftware manner.

Additionally, in the information processing device illustrated in FIG.12, application software is sometimes replaced by using the storagemedium 48 such as a flexible disc, etc. Accordingly, the presentembodiment is not limited to a telephone, a safety confirmation methodand program, and can be configured as the computer-readable storagemedium 48 for causing a computer to execute the above describedfunctions according to the embodiment, when used by the computer.

In this case, the storage medium is, for example, a portable storagemedium 56 such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (or an MO, a digitalversatile disk (DVD), a removable hard disk, etc.), which isinsertable/removable in/from a medium driving device 57, a storing unit(database, etc.) 52 within an external device (server, etc.), contentsof which are transmitted via a network line 53, or a memory (a RAM, ahard disk, etc.) 55, etc. within the main body 54 of the informationprocessing device 51 as illustrated in FIG. 13. The program stored onthe portable storage medium 56 or in the storing unit (database, etc.)52 is loaded into the memory 55 (the RAM, the hard disk, etc.) withinthe main body 54 and executed.

Additionally, the embodiment can be also implemented by using varioustypes of future-developed large-capacity storage media, for example, anext-generation optical disk storage medium using a blue laser, such asBlu-ray Disc (registered trademark), an advanced optical disc (AOD),etc., HD-DVD 9 using a red laser, Blue Laser DVD using a blue-violetlaser, and the like in addition to the above cited examples of thestorage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, etc.

In the above description, the functions of the transmitting terminal 1and the receiving terminal 3 are separately described for simplicity ofexplanation. Actually, however, a telephone according to this embodimentmay include both of the functions of the transmitting terminal 1 and thereceiving terminal 3 as a matter of course.

Additionally, in the above description, the transmitting terminal 1 andthe receiving terminal 3 are assumed to be portable terminals such as acellular phone, etc. However, the transmitting terminal 1 and thereceiving terminal 3 may be configured as a fixed-line phone in thisembodiment.

If the fixed-line phone is not provided with an electronic mailfunction, the safety confirmation number registration process is notexecuted, and a safety confirmation number and a safety confirmationtext are preregistered to the telephone, for example, at factoryshipment.

According to the embodiments, only a connection at a call control levelis made without using electronic mail, and safety confirmation can bemade only by transmitting and receiving a signal at the call controllevel, whereby a load imposed on a relay cellular phone switching systemcan be reduced, and a normal communication is not hindered.

Furthermore, since a mail server is not used for safety confirmation, adelay does not occur in the safety confirmation.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the inventionand the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, andare to be construed as being without limitation to such specificallyrecited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of suchexamples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority andinferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the presentinvention have been described in detail, it should be understood thatthe various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made heretowithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A communication device, comprising: an input unit configured toaccept an input made by a user; and a transmitting unit configured toadd, to a first call control signal, a safety confirmation number foridentifying a message that is accepted by the input unit and stored on areceiving side, and to transmit the first call control signal with thesafety confirmation number.
 2. The communication device according toclaim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to displayinformation, which indicates a safety state, based on information addedto a received second call control signal.
 3. The communication deviceaccording to claim 2, further comprising a storing unit configured tostore the safety confirmation number and a safety confirmation text byassociating the safety confirmation number with the safety confirmationtext, wherein: the information added to the second call control signalincludes the safety confirmation number, and information indicating aparticular portion of the safety confirmation text; and the display unitdisplays information corresponding to the safety confirmation number andthe information indicating the particular portion of the safetyconfirmation text within the storing unit.
 4. The communication deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the second call control signal is adisconnection signal.
 5. The communication device according to claim 1,further comprising an electronic mail transmitting unit configured totransmit electronic mail including the safety confirmation number andthe safety confirmation text.
 6. The communication device according toclaim 1, wherein the transmitting unit adds the safety conformationnumber, which is accepted by the input unit, to the first call controlsignal, and transmits the first call control signal with the safetyconformation number to a plurality of transmission destinations.
 7. Thecommunication device according to claim 1, wherein the first callcontrol signal is a call connection request signal.
 8. A communicationdevice, comprising: a communicating unit configured to communicate witha different device; a display unit configured to display information; aninput unit configured to accept an input of information; a storing unitconfigured to store safety confirmation information displayed on thedisplay unit for safety confirmation, and safety confirmationidentification information for identifying the safety confirmationinformation by associating the safety confirmation information with thesafety confirmation identification information; a determining unitconfigured to determine whether or not safety confirmationidentification information is added to a call control signal receivedfrom the different device via the communicating unit; and a controllingunit configured to read corresponding safety confirmation informationfrom the storing unit based on added safety confirmation identificationinformation if the safety confirmation identification information isadded to the call control signal.
 9. The communication device accordingto claim 8, wherein the controlling unit identifies information that auser inputs with the input unit according to a display of the safetyconfirmation information, adds the input information to a call controlsignal, and causes the communicating unit to transmit the call controlsignal with the input information to the different device.
 10. Thecommunication device according to claim 9, wherein the controlling unitcauses the communicating unit to transmit the call control signal to thedifferent device, if information is not input from the input unit withina predetermined duration from reception of the safety confirmationidentification information.
 11. The communication device according toclaim 8, wherein the controlling unit extracts safety confirmationinformation received from the different device, and safety conformationidentification information corresponding to the safety confirmationinformation, and registers the safety confirmation information and thesafety confirmation identification information in the storing unit byassociating the safety confirmation information with the safetyconfirmation identification information.
 12. A safety confirmationmethod, comprising: accepting an input made by a user; and adding asafety confirmation number input by the user to a first call controlsignal, and transmitting the first call control signal with the safetyconfirmation number.